Location: Approximately 17 km SW of Kilcullen (4 km south of Ballitore) along
the N 9. Take the first right (third class road) past Timolin - just past the P.O.). The
roads are a bit confusing here and the church and cross are not posted until you are
practically atop the site. Take the 3rd class road about half a km. Just past the 90
degree turn take the first right (looks a bit like a driveway). If you come to a
crossroads where the roads seem to be tiny lanes, you know you're within meters of it.
The church and cross are hidden from direct view of the street by a wall. Parking is
beside the wall, sufficient for several cars.

Comments: Hopefully the signs have been updated, but even if not, this high
cross is well worth seeking out for its height and carving. Done in an interesting flat
style, it has been theorized that these flat surfaces would have been easier to paint,
as many high crosses were. In the cemetery, there appears to be the base of another
high cross - certainly a quite aged one.

History: The church is believed to have been founded by St. Palladius,
who came to Ireland in 431. It was later dedicated to St. Columcille.
In 1835, the cross head and stepped base of the granite high cross were discovered during
some work that was being done in the graveyard of the ruined church. Because the carvings
were not exposed to the elements, they were in a remarkable state of preservation,
and the cross was re-erected by the Duke of Leinster in 1850. The shaft was found in 1893 and
the cross was restored again. A section of another highly ornamented cross was found
and both crosses were moved to the interior of the church ruin in 1995 and some
conservation work was done on the large cross. The crosses have been recently cleaned
and a modern plexi-glass roof was
installed over the shell of the church to provide the crosses with protection from the
elements. The large cross is believed to have been carved between 900 and 1000 AD.

Other Items of Interest: Moone Castle (tower house) can be seen over the wall at
the far end of the cemetery. It is on private property.